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Lethbridge Herald, The (Newspaper) - June 26, 1973, Lethbridge, Alberta
6 THE IETHBRIDGE HERAID Tuesday, Junt 26, 1973 Ask Andy Duckbill platypus Andy sends a complete 20- volume set of the Merit Stu- dents Encyclopedia to David Lowe, age 10, of Avondale, Arizona, for his question: What are the breeding habits of the duckbill platypus The duckoiil platypus is re- markable and his family life is downright amazing. His ex- quisite fur coat suggests that he is a mammal. And so he is. But whoever heard of a mam- mal that hatches from an egg This is true of the remark- able platypus. What's more, when breeding time comes around, the platypus parents behave in other amazing ways. V Scientists had a tough time studying the private life of the platypus family. These ani- mals live in out of the way places in Australia and Tas- mania and their favorite haunts are muddy banks along cer- tain streams. What's more, they are very shy and prefer to keep out of sight. Their homes are secretive burrows with underwater entrances. They venture forth only to forage for food on the bottom of their sstreams. However, after observing the platypus in the wild and m cap- tivity, now the story of his family life can be told Through most of the year, male and fe- male adults live in their pri- Today in history By THE CANADIAN PRESS- 1S59 Queen Elizabeth and President Eisenhower of the United States dedi- cated the St. Lawrence Sea- way. United Nations charter was signed at San Francisco. was rationed" in the United States. Heed opened Ms campaign against yellow fever. vate burrows and often share some of their living quarters in a friendly fashion. This changes when the breeding season comes around, once a year. The adult female goes off on her own and digs a special bur- row which will be the nest and nursery. The entrance, as usual, is under water and there is a secret air vent to the sur- face. The nest is lined with eucalyptus leaves and shredd- ed grasses. During the entire breeding season, the female's conduct might be called cranky. She builds the entire nest by her- self and refuses to trust the male, even to get a glimpse of the babies. After mating she retires to her maternity bur- row and seals the entrance with gobs of mud. About two weeks later she lays one, two or three soft shelled eggs. They are round and about the size of piegeon eggs. The eggs are stuck together, perhaps to avoid losing them in the roomy nest. Then the patient little mother curls around in a ball and clutches the precious bundle to her warm bosom. This incuba'ion period lasts nine or ten days. The newly hatched infants are helplessly blind and naked and the next several months is a period of secluded baby care. Like all mammal babies, the infant platypuses are fed on mother's milk. When a young platypus hat- ches from his egg, he already has a stubby little beak. Later this will become the famous snout that looks like a duck- bill. Actually, it is rather soft and leathery and inside it there are hard plates for chew- ing worms, crustaceans and other tasty snacks. The adult platypus is about 18 inches inches long, plus a flat six-inch tail, which is fine for swim- ming. His legs are stubby and his feet have claws for digging, plus webs of skin, which also are fine for swimming. Questions asfced by children of Herald readers should be mailed to Ask Andy, P.O. Box 765. HnntLugton Beach, California 92648. (Copyright Chronicle Publishing Co. 1973 LAWRENCE E. LAMB, M. D. Embolism may hit out of the blue A2E PUT IT VCU KNOW A AM? WAY- S Of- Htff GOREN ON BRIDGE BY CHARLES H. GOREN ffl 1973, Tin TflWnt Both vulnerable. East deals. NORTH AAJ7654I tf 43 O7 AA62 WEST EAST 4KQ A10983 Wold OKJ1053 02 AID SOUTH A Void OAQ9864 The bidding: East South Viest North 4 A 4 V Dble. Pass Pass Pass v Opening lead: Ten of West's double of South's four heart overcall appeared to be "money from home" to the former. Hopes for a profit died, however, when he failed to uncover the win- ning defense. West opened the ten of clubs, the suit in which Ms partner had preempted, and the ace was played from dummy. A diamond was led to the ace and then a small diamond was ruffed with the three of hearts and East dis- carded a club. East's failure to overruff enlightened South to the fact that every missing trump stacked behind him. West was now revealed to have started with five hearts and five diamonds. He had led the ten of clubs original- ly and, on the basis of East's opening club bid, It appeared likelj to the de- clarer that s remaining two cards were pades. The ace of spades was cashed and a c imond dis- carded from the closed hand. A small spade was ruffed with the deuce of hearts as West followed suit with the king. A diamond was trumped in dummy to give declarer six tricks and produce this position: NOKTH 4J7654 9 Void OVold A62 WEST EAST A Void AIDS tfVoid OKJ OVold A Void K Q J 8 7 SOUTH A Void A Void A club was led from dum- my and South ruffed with the Jack of hearts. West dis- carded the jack of dia- monds, a move he was soon to regret. Declarer exited with a diamond putting West in with the king. The latter returned a small trump, en- abling South to score a trick with the seven of Hearts. The king of hearts was led and ducked giving declarer his ninth trick. He switched to a diamond whhh West ruffed with the eight of trumps. He cashed the ace; however, South's queen took the final and game fulfilling .rick. If West had overruf fed the jack of hearts with the ace at trick seven, the final out- come would still have been the same, for he is end- played on the return wheth- er he leads a heart or a dia- mond; South can throw him in subsequently and force another favorable return. The only effective defense is for West to discard a small heart under the jack. This averts one of the end- plays and declarer will even- tually fall one trick short Dear Dr. Lamb Last year my brother died of a pulmonary embolism. We, the family, are still uncertain about this di- sease and his death. Two weeks before his death he was admitt- ed to the hospital with a case pf pneumonia. He was recov- ering from the pneumonia when the embolism occurred, and his sudden death was the result. We should like to know more about pulmonary embolism. What causes a very healthy 28-year-old man to die of such a disease? Also, how can it go unnoticed by the physician? Dear Reader I know how distressed you must feel. This is one of those diseases which can strike out of the blue when it's least expected by the phy- sician or the patient and cause death even in young ap- parently healthy individuals or during a minor illness or what might be considered minor surgery. I The whole problem begins, with the formation of a blood clot. The clot may form in the veins in the legs, thighs, or lower abdomen. If it's inside a deep vein, it may not cause any obvious findings. The clot then breaks loose and follow- the circulation through the pro- larger veins into the right side of the heart, then passes through the right heart through the arteries to the lungs. Because the arteries to the lungs progressively branch into smaller and smaller arter- ies, the clot lodges in the lungs. The clot lodged in the lungs triggers off powerful reflex responses that are responsible for shock and can cause irre- gularities of the heart, com- plete collapse of the circula- tion, and sudden death. Such an episode is more apt to occur as a result of bed rest. This is one reason why surgeons often get their pa- tients out of bed as early as possible after surgery. By mov- ing around, the circulation in the legs is improved and this helps prevent clots. Sometimes it's not possible to get a patient out of bed, particularly with illnesses such as severe pneumonia or if shock is present. It's difficult to say why a perfectly healthy person will develop such a clot, other than stagnant circulation that devel- ops from inactivity. It is the nature of blood to tend to clot, that's what keeps us from bleeding to death, and without activity the blood flow is slow- ed and is conducive to clotting. It's quite understandable how a small clot can go unnoticed by the physician. It just may not present any real findings until suddenly the pulmonary embolism occurs without warn- ing. Relatives often wonder just what went wrong when an un- expected death occurs, parti- cularly in a young, fairly heal- thy individual. Life is unpredic- table and sudden complications and accidents do occur which no doctor, no matter how cap- able he is, can predict. Fortun- ately the incidence of pulmon- ary embolism is smaller today than it used to be because of the increased emphasis on getting patients out of bed as soon as their medical or sugical con- dition permits. I hope these com- ments will help you to under- stand what happened, and that you will be able to accept this as an unexpected accident of life, just as a sudden fatal auto- mobile accident which could have occurred. Send your questions to Dr. Lamb, in care of this news- paper, P.O. Box 1551, Radio City Station, New York, N.Y. 10019. For a copy of Dr. Lamb's new booklet on hem- orrhoids, send 50 cents to the same address and ask for "Hemorrhoids" booklet. Send your questions to Dr. Lamb, in care of this news- paper, P.O. Box 1551, Radio City Station, New York, N.Y. 10019. For a copy of Dr. Lamb's booklet on balanced diet, send 50 cents to the same address and ask for "Balanced Diet' booklet. TUMBLEWEEDS-By Tom K. Ryan PREAK YOUR OF HISTOPACCQ- CHEWIN6 HAPITOR 6LSEJ.... ATORACOXHEWERS ANONYMOUS? BlONDII-By Chic Young Your horoscope By JEANE DIXON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27 Your birthday today: Marks a sustained forward march thru experimental phases into a successful pattern. The year's emphasis is on material con- cerns. Relationships tend to inspirational contacts, free from affection. Today's na- tives have courage, aren't al- ways very tactful. ARIES (March 21 Skip the bickering, take every- one into your confidence, get busy to fix up your household. TAURUS (April 20 May Give credit where credit is due, particularly where you have been helped. It's a good day for additions to personal possess- ions. GEMINI (May 21 June You thrive in competition, have no hesitation in taking on a de- bate. Investigate the prospects for changes in work conditions. CANCER (June 21 July Sat a high value on anything you offer for sale. Communica- tion, correspondence promise results beyond expectations make an effort! LEO (Jnly 23 Aug. Pro- motion is normal today. It you're not improving, you're either on a divergent track or missing some point. VIRGO (Aug. 23 Sept. Self-improvement is the goal of the moment. Push pending pro- jects toward early completion. LIBRA 23 Oct. Now your personality counts strongly. Encouraging others' efforts should be continued in proportion to your own pro- gress. SCORPIO (Oct. 23 It's a great day for sorting out what is yours and what is not, making the best use of all opportunities for reasonable ex- changes. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. Your treatment of others brings results in kind on this otherwise undistinguished day. Be diligent. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 Jan. Benefits are indicated if you will stay in place to re- ceive them. Present a smooth, graceful side of your person- ality. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 Feb. The soft sell does it. In- stead of pressing others to adopt your ideas, simply apply them and attract interest by your good results. PISCES (Feb. 19 March Resolve to hold to thrifty bud- get decisions despite your bright mood and temptations to spend. 1973, The Chicago Tribune Fun with figures By J. A. H. HUNTER By J. A. H. HUNTER Each distinct letter in this ad- dition stands for a particular but different digit. It's all very easy, but what do you make of this JOB? (Answer tomorrow) Yesterday's answer: Box 12 by 8 by 6 inches, with volume 576 cubic inches. Mr. Hunter answers all let ters: ideas welcomed. HAGAR the HORRIBLE-By Dik Browns THAT IS RSALL.Y A MISERABLE BOSS.' WHEN YOU WORK POR A MAS' UKH Md. PITHERS t THE DAYS DOKJ'T GO BE PHILOSOPHICAL, DAGWOOD- f JUST LET THE DAYS 60 BY BEETLE BAILEY-By Mart Walker C, LET MS DO THE ANIMALS, WIU.YA? PONT KNOW MOW TO PC ANIMALS.' TO DO A GOOD DOfir TILL TriEY PUT ME IN CLOTHES ANP TAU6HT ME TO TUN5 IN THE TV U'L ABNER-By AI Capp GUEST OF x-----V AH DOMT DOME. TO WO PARTIES FO' HONJOa, PROFESSOR i NO TALKS.'.' OESTFO'TH'FOOD GALS.V -TOO HARVARD PROFESSORS OWW KKJOW OTHER DULL WO REAL TO-EAKTH SORE VOU'LL ALL EWdOV A TALK GMMS A PARTY ARCHIE-By Bob Montana r IT DOESN'T LOOK VERT CITY FELLER.. WAKE THE CAMP RENTED'S NEVER MIND LETS JUST FAU. INTO BED AND GET SOME THINK WOULD TAKE LONG TO DRIVE TO THIS CAMP HI AND LOIS-By Dik IT SURE TAKES A LOT OP WATER TO DROWN j A LITTLE FLEA.' SHORT RIBS-By Frank O'Neal I'LL KT THEM OUr, DIPN'T WU, SACK? I'LL 0CT TOLP THSWTD SHAPE yPOti THE POOP HERS, BUGS BUNNY WHAT POVOU PETUNIA? 1'LU SAY NOT EVeRYBOPV COUUP WEAR A SPORTS LIKE THAT1 POVOU REALLY THINK sor IT TAKES SOMEONE WITH ENOUGH NERVE j TO OUT IN WITH IT ON J,
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